firebox stays

pl. Rods which prevent the crushing down of the top of the box by the pre ure of the steam. fire-brand, *fire-brond, s. [English fire, and brand.] 1. Lit .: A piece of wood kindled or on fire. 2. Fig .: An incendiary; one who inflames or excites the pa ions of others. fire-brand-ěd, a . [English fire ; brand; -ed.] Armed with or carrying firebrands, in allusion to the story of Samson destroying the corn of the Philistines ( Judges xv.). " Fire branded foxes to sear up and singe Our gold and ripe-eared hopes. Keats: Endymion, iii. 7. fire-brick, s . [Eng. fire , and brick .] A brick of refractory clay for lining furnaces, ovens, and for all kinds of brickwork exposed to such an intense heat as would melt common bricks. Firebricks are made from a natural compound of silica and alumina, which, when free from lime and other fluxes, is infusible under the greatest heat to which it can be subjected. Oxide of iron, however, which is present in most clays, renders the clay fusible when the silica and alumina are nearly in equal proportions, and those fire-clays are the best in which the silica is greatly in exce over the alumina. In making bricks and refractory goods, it is usual to use about two-thirds of fire-clay and one-third of burnt clay or bricks, to stiffen the ma and prevent undue combustion. ( Weale . ) fire-brush, s. [Eng. fire, and brush.] A brush to sweep the hearth. fire-bŭc-kět, s . [English fire , and bucket .] A bucket made of canvas, leather, or wood, and kept in readine for emergencies. On board ship a fire-bucket has a sennit lanyard of a length regulated to reach the water alongside, from the station whence the fire-bucket is to be thrown overboard to be filled.